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How Online Courses Are Giving Busy Adults New Educational Opportunities I recently took a class so I could learn how to use the digital camera my husband gave me two years ago for Valentine’s Day. It was a first-rate course, in which I learned about everything from pixels, resolution and ISO settings to editing in the digital darkroom. To boot, I’ve actually applied some of my newfound knowledge during the past few months. Interestingly, though, I never met the instructor who taught the course. I never met any of the other students. I never even left my house. That’s because I decided to take an online class that never required me to set foot in a traditional classroom. Instead, I logged on to a special Web site each week at my convenience to learn the ins and outs of this burgeoning segment of photography. I’m not alone in my pursuit of education in cyberspace. The popularity of online learning has skyrocketed since the new millennium. People have started turning to the Internet to finish their baccalaureate degrees, go back to graduate school, develop their professional skills, and delve further into their favorite hobbies. According to the Sloan Consortium, an organization that tracks the growth of online education, this trend is particularly prevalent in the South. In fact, in its report “Growing by Degrees: Online Education in the United States, 2005 — Southern Edition,” it revealed that “online learning has made greater inroads in the southern states than in the nation as a whole. Penetration rates are consistently higher and attitudes toward online education are consistently more positive.” Throughout the region, colleges and universities are complementing standard classroom offerings with a wide variety of online courses, especially in graduate and continuing education programs, giving students who do not have the time or the ability to attend classes on campus the same educational opportunities as those who do. Clearly, this is an ideal proposition if you’re a busy Metro Atlanta resident who devotes much of your time to your family and career but still wants to find a way to advance yourself either professionally or personally. With clear goals and a bit of research about what’s available in the online learning arena, you just might find the right cyber school to fit your needs.
Of course, if you’re looking to spend 100 percent of your time online right now, there are all kinds of options. For instance, there’s The University of Phoenix, one of the most recognized names in online education. Billed as the country’s largest accredited university, the school offers online degree programs in business, technology, healthcare, education, and social and behavioral science. The range of programs covers both baccalaureate and master’s degrees, and you get to fulfill your academic requirements from the comfort of your own home. Fortunately, technology gives you the chance to take part in any available Internet-based program, even if it’s from an institution based in another state. When Ellen Black, an employee with Cobb Fire & Emergency Services, decided to return to school to get her master’s degree in Disaster Science, she had a certain program in mind — the graduate program in Emergency Services Management at the University of Richmond. Dr. Walter Green, the director of the program, is known worldwide for his work in the area, and she wanted to learn from the best. She has, thanks to the fact that the program is online and available to students everywhere. Actually, there’s a program right here in Georgia that’s also providing students with a rigorous but rewarding experience, the Georgia WebMBA. A group effort among Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, the University of West Georgia and Valdosta State University, the 18-month, 10-course program, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, allows you to obtain your Master of Business Administration (MBA) completely online. “This is a very high-quality MBA degree program with a very seasoned graduate faculty,” explained Joe Bocchi, D.A., director of Georgia WebMBA. “And you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars traveling to campus or be in class on evenings and weekends. We have students who work 12 hours a day and have three kids. They can’t drive two hours to campus for class. So this is a high gain without distracting from other areas of your life.” Prospective students must apply to one of the five participating colleges to join the program. Once you are accepted, you do have to meet once at Kennesaw State University (KSU) for a two-day orientation, which includes a comprehensive training session for WebCT Vista, the program students use to interact with faculty members and each other online. And although students have to meet certain assignment deadlines each semester, the work is asynchronous. In other words, students do not have to be online at the same time; they can log on at their convenience to download reading materials, participate in discussions or submit work. Bocchi observed that the online model has been successful since Georgia WebMBA launched in 2001. “People are able to do their work at their peak learning times,” he noted, adding that this could be early in the morning or late at night. Furthermore, he said, “There is no significant difference in learning when online and campus classes are compared. And, in the future, I think there will be even more acceptance of online learning.” Click To Continue Your Education These types of classes are becoming a hallmark for KSU and attracting students from all walks of life. “The program has grown by leaps and bounds within the last five years,” asserted Shannon Crupi, online program manager. “And our growth in the last three years has been phenomenal.” There’s a reason for that. “There are a lot of other schools out there that have online [continuing education] classes, but as far as I know, we are one of the largest in the nation in terms of the volume of students and the classes that we offer,” she continued. And those classes are as varied as the students who register for them. From life enrichment classes like digital photography, speed-reading, philosophy and wine appreciation to professional development courses like business writing, graphic design, computer applications and certificate preparation, there’s truly something for everyone. According to Crupi, there are more than 40 classes approved for the professional learning units that Georgia teachers must acquire annually to maintain their teaching certificates, and courses like Spanish and the GMAT preparation class are extremely popular with all students. Each class is offered once a month, so you can start whenever you have six weeks to devote to the course. In addition, some of the more technical classes are “start anytime” courses, which vary in length and can be registered for and started whenever you have the opportunity. Highly qualified individuals who have degree backgrounds and professional experience teach the classes. While you may not meet them face-to-face, they are very responsive online. “At all times I felt like I could interact with the instructor on a professional level and receive personal attention,” said Angela Shipp, who received her Certificate in Technical Writing online through KSU. What led her to enter the short-term program, which consisted of a series of three classes, was the chance to boost her career in corporate communications. “I felt that pursuing a Certificate in Technical Writing would expand my skills and improve my writing abilities,” she commented. This, Crupi explained, is why most people take online continuing education classes. “The top four reasons [for taking a course] are to develop new skills, to improve existing skills, to advance one’s career and because the subject matter looked interesting,” she revealed. Whatever your motivation, you have to find an educational outlet that works for you. KSU is just one option. The University of Phoenix is another, with an entire catalog of individual courses in business, criminal justice, public administration, retail management, technology and more, as well as continuing education courses for teachers and professional certificate programs for call center professionals, human resource managers and project managers. Georgia Tech actually offers a variety of technical and engineering courses online through its Professional Education department, as well as Chinese, Japanese and Russian. A number of colleges, universities, professional associations and educational organizations across the country offer online and distance learning programs as well. You just have to find the class that suits you best.
“Online learning has made greater inroads in the southern states than in the nation as a whole.”
Debunking The Myths Furthermore, Crupi noted, “It is still a class, and you have to make sure that the people around you know that you’re actually taking a class, not goofing around online. Sometimes people find it hard to set aside that time. It does take a bit of self-discipline to say, ‘I have to go take my class now.’ ” Yet, once you’re online and working through your assignments, you’ll quickly realize that you do feel like you’re in class, even if you’re at home. The technology used, from WebCT and Blackboard to ed2go.com, provides you with more communication opportunities than you might expect, particularly on the discussion boards. “Taking an online class is active, not passive,” Bocchi explained. “People tend to think there is no interaction in online education, but that’s not true. You’re emailing, discussing and putting into writing your thoughts. You have to articulate what you want to say, and the faculty is always there with you.” May added, “My own experience is that the online environment is really more effective than the classroom for discussions. In a classroom with 25 people, it’s hard to get a good discussion going. But it seems like online everyone can get their thoughts in and have a chance to respond in a way that’s very productive.”
It may take a little while to get used to the online environment, but once you do, it will provide you with a number of benefits, like convenience, flexibility, and the chance to learn something new for a reasonable price. Certainly, some undergraduate and graduate programs can carry hefty fees, but many of the continuing education classes are quite economical. For my six-week class, I paid $169 and I thought it was worth every penny. Just think before you leap, especially if you want to take a class or join a program to further your career, Black advised. “I would recommend [taking online courses] to anyone, but they need to be selective,” she said. “There are a lot of programs out there that are not accredited or recognized by other institutions or employers. Ask around, make lots of phone calls and do your research. Then, expect to work your tail off, but learn a lot.” Exploring Your Online Options The best way to find out which colleges, universities and other educational institutions are offering online courses is to get out there and surf the Web. To help you start your search, try these Web sites, which list and rank online programs throughout the country: The Sloan Consortium: www.sloan-c.org For More Information
Georgia Institute of Technology Professional Education Georgia WebMBA The University of Phoenix Online |
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Cyber School
Pursuing a degree online is becoming a much more accepted form of higher education these days. Yet, while Metro Atlanta institutions are beginning to address students’ needs by offering online opportunities, many of the courses found in today’s academic programs are a hybrid, meaning that some face-to-face class time is required along with time spent in the virtual classroom. That’s changing as students request more online learning opportunities. 
Also, you don’t have to be a whiz on the computer. All you need is reliable Internet access and a browser, as the software programs take care of the rest. For example, Bocchi stated, “WebCT is very intuitive. There aren’t a thousand bells and whistles. It’s very clean and easy to use.” And typically there will be some kind of technical support available should you have problems logging on, downloading materials or uploading assignments. 
Continuing Education at Kennesaw State University